Wednesday, 31 October 2012

Cutting the ribbon with Pippa Goldfinger, the Mayor, along with the kids, Granny and Dawne

On Saturday 27th October, after many weeks of preparation, late nights and 'will we do it?' wobbles, we opened the doors to the first Sisters Guild shop. Yes, a bricks and mortar, real-life shop, with a tinkly bell and everything! It's location is in Frome, a place we feel is one of the leading creative towns of the West Country. The shop, with its' arched-window frontage, is part of a beautiful 17th Century building at the top of the cobbled Catherine Hill. We were drawn to 'The Hill' for that little bit of extra magic that is there due to the far from the high street vibe.

Balloons at the ready before the doors open...

We are giddy with glee for a dream fulfilled. We pulled it off in true sisters style, with the help of
our Wonder-Mama Annie, our Shop Manager Dawne, super-skilled Fay who lives above the shop, and, not forgetting, the tea and marmite toast care of The Little Red Cafe. Thank you.

So, here we set sail on the sisters new shop adventure. It feels wonderful to be able to see and share all the collections together in an enchanting Somerset location.

If you're local come say hello. For those farther afield, you have yet another reason to head West. Frome is an inspiring place and we hope we've added an extra bit of wonder.

Monday, 29 October 2012

It's the time of year when we embrace the indoors and the darker evenings. Needing things to keep our imaginations busy in the confines of our cozy indoor space. The girls have been full of stories playing with their shadow puppets we made from black card and little wooden BBQ skewers. Turning off their bedroom lights and using spotlights and nightlights to create tales with shadows on their walls.

Seeing them enjoy the shadows and the stories they create I thought the imagination was worthy of more than the wall and deserved a theatre of their own. So, I put an old king size sheet, no longer used, to a new use and together we designed our very own fabric puppet theatre; 'The Little', named after the family theatre in Bath. I know it will enjoy many productions and many new characters introduced too.

Here's what you'll need:

a large sheet of cotton fabric

black fabric paint & black fabric pen

card for creating stencils

scissors

sewing machine / needle and thread

ribbon

Here's how:

Begin by drawing a large rectangular shaped outline in the centre of your fabric.

following the top and the bottom line of your rectangle continue it to the outer edges of the fabric in one straight line.

To create the 'boxes' for the audience draw a template onto card then position them onto the fabric and draw around with your fabric pen.

You can now use the fabric paint a paint brush to colour in the background around your stage and boxes.

To create the decorated name on the top I first drew round a small oval dish for the name to sit inside and then folded ribbon onto card and carefully drew around it. This became the template for the ribbon either side.

We found a silhouette picture of a fairy and traced around that for our decoration on the top part.

Whilst I decorated the top Sophia got busy drawing the curtains onto the fabric with a black fabric pen.

Once the paint was dry I cut the fitted corners of the sheet off and hemmed the sheet so that it would hang straight.

Then I gave the top line a thick hem so that an extendable shower curtain (or tension rod) could be used to hang it in a door frame or across a room.

I then folded a long ribbon measuring 4 metres in half and sewed the middle to top edge side of the theatre and repeated the process for the other side. Now, the theatre is as portable as the stories and can be hung outside and in and can fit any room.

Their play ' I wish. I wish' was based upon a genie who wished to escape his life in the lamp and visited kingdoms across the world to discover all he ever had to say was 'I wish, I wish' to become part of the living world.

This is going to be so much fun for our Halloween party too. Though perhaps before that I'll add some final touches. I'd like to lift the ribbons and name a little by blacking out an arch behind it, making it more prominent in the dark. The girls have asked we decorate the 'boxes' with an audience, chandeliers and curtains and finally I'd like to add a few rows of seats at the bottom. That's if I get a chance to take it down and paint upon it again........

I'll update the pictures once I've finished it completely.... in the meantime, happy making!

Thursday, 25 October 2012

This week we blog-travel to a sunnier season in New Zealand, to customer Natasha's favourite place....

Natasha: This is our favourite place in Picton, New Zealand. My son Caleb and
Husband Kris are riding on a mini train which travels under a bridge and
over a pond tooting its horn as it comes back to it station. Kids just
love this ride plus you can also sail mini yachts on the pond. After all
this fun you can take a stroll along the waterfront and watch the big
ferries come in that connect the north island to the south island. This
little gem spot is a winner every time we visit.

Thank you Natasha for sharing your family-friendly place. What a lovely Father & Son moment you captured!

We all have a little patch of space somewhere, our familiar spot, a spot where we go to relax, unwind, play and meet friends. For some it's there nearest open green space, or a gallery, a favourite cafe, or perhaps their grandmothers garden.

We love hearing about all these favourite places and sharing them here on our blog with you. We've been to the 'Devils Chair', shared a view of Loch Sheil in Scotland, we've played in the woods of Wimbledon Common, dreamt of visiting Oia in Santorini. We've felt our hearts heal at 'Heavens Gate' in our home county of Wiltshire, We took a seat at the Wolesley, sat on a bench in the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris and we heard of a kiss on the cliffs of Beer in Devon.....where we'll go next we don't know....where's your favourite place?

Put it on the map and share it with us....... you could even win a £60 Sisters Guild Voucher!

• Send us a picture of your favourite place• Tell us where it is. If you'd like to tell us why even better.• Email it to : carla@sistersguild.comEach place will be presented on the blog here and entered into a draw for a £60 Sisters Guild voucher The draw will take place on 6th November 2012

Friday, 19 October 2012

With the changing season comes shorter days, wetter and windier too. So with the girls at my side with tape measure, kettle and aprons at the ready we've been busy making some fun changes to our indoor space. Having a kitchen 'grand designs' of our own.

One advantage about moving house again and again is you learn how to use furniture in different ways. A huge antique cupboard that has moved with us with each move, previously used as wardrobe, once a hallway cupboard and then used in the playroom for the girls games, puzzles and playthings now houses an inner room of its own. It is a piece I want to keep and so it must adapt to what space we have and what role it can be purposed for. Though its not yet finished..... here's what lies inside....

The middle section now opens up into a cosy kitchen, the doors now have hooks on the inside to hang their aprons, utensil racks have been hung, and kettles, teapots and pans hang at a reachable height, there is even an enamel washing bowl! The girls eye up every pretty little tin, jam jar and spice box that I have in my kitchen and everyday hears ' Have you finished with it yet?' 'Can I have it for my kitchen now?'

I'll have to wallpaper their little kitchen though I dream of tiling it (perhaps I will)! I'd love something like this tiled wallpaper.'Mixed Folk' coated wallpaper by Louise Body. Though its already bordering on upstaging our 'real kitchen' all it needs is a few terracotta pots of herbs!

It has seen so much play and some very creative cooking which see's things going missing from my own kitchen to be found on their shelves or in their oven mixed in with other random ingredients. I only hope this isn't fashioned on my own culinary skills! Perhaps I ought to let them borrow a recipe book or two.
This is part of our 'once upon a week' collection. We also have other stories and features including our 'Monday Makery', 'I Spy' , 'The Art of Living', and our weekly 'Wednesday Woo'.
If you'd like to receive our weekly newsletter to receive offers and news and find out the about our new collections sign up below.

Thursday, 18 October 2012

Today we travel to the southern hemisphere, to the lower north shore of Sydney and discover a new favourite place in our blog travels.

Kylie Smith sent us this cute picture taken in Carlson Park 'a little park across the road from our house in Willoughby, Sydney'. This is their favourite place. Kylie says 'It's our favourite place to search for four -leaf clovers, pick flowers to put in our hair, ride bikes around the tiny path or play in the sand pit with friends.'

We all have a little patch of space somewhere, our familiar spot, a spot where we go to relax, unwind, play and meet friends. For some it's there nearest open green space, or a gallery, a favourite cafe, or perhaps their grandmothers garden.

We love hearing about all these favourite places and sharing them here on our blog with you. We've been to the 'Devils Chair', shared a view of Loch Sheil in Scotland, we've played in the woods of Wimbledon Common, dreamt of visiting Oia in Santorini. We've felt our hearts heal at 'Heavens Gate' in our home county of Wiltshire, We took a seat at the Wolesley, sat on a bench in the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris and we heard of a kiss on the cliffs of Beer in Devon.....where we'll go next we don't know....where's your favourite place?

Put it on the map and share it with us....... you could even win a £60 Sisters Guild Voucher!

• Send us a picture of your favourite place• Tell us where it is. If you'd like to tell us why even better.• Email it to : carla@sistersguild.comEach place will be presented on the blog here and entered into a draw for a £60 Sisters Guild voucher The draw will take place on 6th November 2012

Wednesday, 17 October 2012

The Sisters Guild Boutique is ready for the festive season with decorations, gifts, new traditions to start and plenty of party dresses. We've all gotten a little bit giddy with the arrival of these handsome fellas too!

The gang is back dressed in their winter warmers and ready for some festive fun!

Monday, 15 October 2012

'I love you more than all the stars in the world' are the last words said as I tuck the children up in bed under their new star strung sky. When decorating it's fun to cover the walls, to hang pictures or to stick up wall stickers that can be played with again and again but when it comes to the ceiling, well its a little neglected!

Now the girls lie down under strings of stars, and some of them even twinkle above the glow of their little bedside lamps.

We were asked to guest blog for one of our favourite designers this week giving them a Makery for children during half term. Jumping at the chance to show some craft love we set to thinking about what we could make for them..... what do we think of when we think of their collection.

Sophia gave me words that came to mind when she saw our collection..... 'It glitters. It's sparkly' .....'Stars!'

So, we began to cut out lots of stars, at first not sure what we would do with them. Then, the answer was there, literally staring up at us, we would hang from our ceiling. So, here they are our garlands of stars, and, there's another makery coming too via our guest post.....so save some stars for later and look out for the link this week!

sewing machine (though alternatively you could make them using a needle and thread)

Here's how:

Taking your coloured card, pencil and cookie cutters draw around the cookie cutters to make lots and lots of star shapes.

Cut out the stars. If you're strong enough concertina the card a few times, draw around the cookie cutter and cut out several at a time.

Feed the first card star through the sewing machine and sew down the middle of your first star. Keep sewing, creating a space then an inch or two of sewing empty space feed through another star. Continue with all your stars until you've got the desired length for your garland. You can create a pattern by alternating the colours and sizing or just go random!

String across a room, above a bed, across windows, down a hallway, up the stairs, wherever you want the stars to hang. The sewing takes only minutes and it's a great craft to tech children how to sew with a machine too.

If you're using a needle and thread try using a hand needle used for wool or embroidery thread, then end is rounder and so easier and safer for little hands. When sewing the stars together thread the needle and tie a knot at the end. Sew the first star on and then a few inches above make a knot then tie the next. A few inches above that star tie another knot and then feed the next star on and then continue in this way tying a knot before each star to make sure it stays put where it is.

Top Tip

Here's a tip for making glittery stars..........

If you'd like to add some glitter to your stars try this little trick to make it easier.

take a cereal box and cut out the back of it using a sharp knife (adults only please) . Tape the original opening to seal the box, then snip one of the bottom corners off. When you want to add glitter, glue the top of your star then glue side up place into your 'glitter box' and sprinkle with glitter.

You can then tip the glitter from the box back into the pot of glitter and none goes to waste.

Look out on the blog this week, as we'll be giving you another 'star' tutorial via our guest blog..... can you guess which designer it's for?

Wednesday, 10 October 2012

As a mama of 2 sons I relish the colder months when it's time to wrap your boys up in scrummy jumpers. My nearly 5 year old is keen to be outside as soon as he wakes, and he tends to sneak out the back door in his pyjamas, oblivious to the wind or rain. I was the same as a child. I remember pulling my wellies on with no socks and scampering off into the garden, getting a bit chilly and then being pulled inside into a big warm jumper. It's the same story with my son, and I know he enjoys that feeling too, pausing for a woolly hug before he's back to his adventures!

Here I have gathered handsome layers to keep boys warm in the wild outdoors.

I adore my boys in leggings and joggers - all the better for rolly pollies and tree climbing I say! And you can't beat a pair of cords for those 'looking smart but still scuffing around' days!

Monday, 8 October 2012

I've begun to be a little obsessed with light, the way a little warm light can make you feel cosy and snug on dark rainy days and how we alter our light both depending on the time of day and the mood we're in or indeed one that we try to create. We use candles at the supper table quite often as there's something magical and intimate about the atmosphere created, both grand and charming.
In light of the darker skies draping our evenings and with Halloween slowly creepily crawling its way closer towards us we've been making our own coloured and sparkly luminaires to use at the table and around the home for those evenings when we want to snuggle up with its bewitching ambiance.

They are simple to make and there's something so hypnotic and magical about watching a little tea light flicker its dancing light through colours and glittering stars.

Wednesday, 3 October 2012

The colder days are creeping in and long gone are the bare legs and short sleeves. Or until another year at least. Autumn is showing its beautiful deep colours that seem to thaw the disapproval of a new season arriving and we surrender to its cool and blustery days.
Not wanting to completely let go of the summer that didn't seem to stay long this year, we're stubbornly wearing our summer dresses over long sleeved t-shirts and thick woolly tights, reluctant to let go. With warm cardigans and jumpers on top for that cosy layer we so need. For the first time this week we've been grabbing our winter coats, jackets and hats and with the bitter morning wind biting our hands we've got our gloves at the ready too.

Monday, 1 October 2012

Being back into a routine of early morning rising, rushing out the door madness of school runs, and beginning each day with a feeling of chaos, I want to avoid the marmite-toast-in-hand-whilst-scooting hurried breakfast and instead start the day as it should; sitting down to enjoy the tastes of breakfast and perhaps a little conversation to begin the day instead of the calling form one room to another 'have you got your shoes on yet?'
The holiday mornings were begun with delicious breakfasts and such a lovely feel that each day began with idyllic sweetness and they became my favourite part of the day .... and I am not a morning person. Its all too easy to grab the Shreddies and leave the kids to it but in doing so i'm not teaching very good habits. Breakfast is the most important part of the day and so should be enjoyed as such not just in the food that nourishes but also in being family together.So, here's a week at my table. A week where I break free from the morning chaos with a little forward thinking and minimal preparation. A week in which I experiment with a new beginning, a new start to the day which has no disjointed garbled fervor. A week where we cater to eachother's tummies and individualism and leave home for the day feeling nourished. Though there are still a few 'Hurry up we're late!'s it's when we're already on the scooters flying to school tummies full with only the distractions of the pavement treasures of feathers and leaves and thick elastic bands to slow us down. So, here's 6 easy recipes that are great for starting the day or as after school snacks.

TIP: mix the dry ingredients the night before then throw in the rest and mix.

The dessert pan I use is similar to this one here, each muffin comes out in a beautiful bowl shape and its a great tin to use for puddings like chocolate cake which can have ice cream served inside! I don't tend to fall for kitchen gadgets but this I love and we use it a lot, especially for birthday parties. Of course this recipe doesn't require the tin as you can bake muffins in a normal muffin tin however the bowls do make them seem just that extra bit special.

TIP: weigh all the ingredients the night before and then just mix them all together in the morning.

I am not trying to create the perfect balanced breakfast but more a perfect balanced morning. Neither am I attempting to be a domestic goddess. But whilst I don't have many recipes set to memory, my memory is just about full with useless information like every home telephone number I've had since childhood, the lyrics to every song I've ever listened to, I could give you word by word the entire film of Bugsy Malone and Gigi and of course these simple recipes are in my memory. Somehow they stayed there.

Happy making. nom. nom.

Now if only I could remember my times table, where I left my hair clip or something that would make me sound fascinatingly interesting in converstaion like the fact that Cinderella is a Aarne Thompson persecuted heroine type 510A and is a character repeated in folktale and is known as Rashin Coatie in Scotland, Zezolla in Italy and Yeh-hsien in China, or that Orca's when travelling in groups breathe in unison, or perhaps that Humans are born with 300 bones in their body, but when we reach adulthood we only have 206 bones, that this happens because many our bones fuse together to make a single bone Or even that the dot that appears above the letter 'i' is called a tittle. Though none of these facts would help a hectic morning!